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      5-ton central heat pump · NS21H Series

      GE NS21H60MA5-**A

      Excellent cooling efficiency and below average heating efficiency for a 5-ton central heat pump, and certified for cold climates.

      Ranks #3 of 100 5 ton central heat pumps for cooling efficiency, and costs about $1,554 a year to run in a mixed climate like Atlanta.

      SEER2
      20.5 Cooling efficiency over a season
      Excellent · beats 96%
      HSPF2
      8.5 Heating efficiency over a season
      Below average · beats 38%
      EER2
      11.7 Cooling efficiency on a 95°F day
      Average · beats 43%
      Heat at 5°F
      38,500 BTU/h66% of its 47°F output
      Very good · beats 70%

      A good fit if…

      • You want low cooling bills - its SEER2 beats 96% of central heat pumps.
      • Your winters get properly cold - it is ENERGY STAR cold-climate certified, with 38,500 BTU/h at 5°F.
      • You want steady temperatures and quiet running - the compressor varies its speed.
      • You want a choice of indoor units - 51 certified pairings.

      Think twice if…

      • You mainly need heat - its HSPF2 is below average for central heat pumps.

      Calculate my running cost

      Details

      Specifications5 ton, R-454B
      General
      BrandGE
      Outdoor unit modelNS21H60MA5-**A
      SeriesNS21H Series
      TypeCentral heat pump
      Nominal size5 ton
      CompressorVariable-speed units run longer at low powerContinuously variable
      RefrigerantR-454B
      Connected (smart) capableNo
      On the market sinceAugust 5, 2025
      Last certifiedApril 22, 2026
      Cooling
      SEER2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better20.5 (range 16.0-20.5)
      EER2Efficiency at 95°F outdoors11.0-12.0
      Cooling capacity52,500-56,000 BTU/h
      Heating
      HSPF2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better8.2-8.5
      Capacity at 47°F52,500-54,500 BTU/h
      Capacity at 17°F40,000-46,000 BTU/h
      Capacity at 5°F31,200-38,500 BTU/h
      COP at 5°F2.0 = twice as efficient as a space heater2.06-2.16
      ENERGY STAR cold climateYes
      Heating output as it gets colder66% kept at 5°F

      Every heat pump delivers less heat as the outdoor temperature drops. Certified output of its matchup with NCU[C,U]49CT5*-**+TDR at the standard test temperatures, in BTU/h:

      Certified matchups51 indoor units

      The same outdoor unit scores differently with each indoor unit and furnace. Ask your installer for the AHRI reference number of the exact system you are quoted.

      Indoor unitFurnaceSEER2EER2HSPF2Heat @5°FAHRI ref.
      NCU[C,U]49CT5*-**+TDRNF80X100V5C*20.511.78.535,600217642437
      NCU[C,U]60CT5*-**+TDRNF80X100V5C*20.512.08.534,800217642446
      NCU[C,U]60DT5*-**+TDRNF97X080V5C*20.511.78.534,600217642450
      NCU[C,U]60DT5*-**+TDRNF98U135M5D*20.511.78.534,400217642483
      NCU[C,U]60CT5*-**+TDRNF97X080V5C*20.011.78.535,200217642447
      NCU[C,U]60CT5*-**+TDRNF98U090M5C*20.011.78.535,000217642448
      NCU[C,U]60CT5*-**+TDRNF98U110M5C*20.011.78.535,000217642449
      NCU[C,U]60CT5*-**+TDRNF80U110S5C*20.011.78.534,800217642500
      NCU[C,U]60CT5*-**+TDRNF80L110S5C*20.011.78.534,800217642501
      NCU[C,U]49CT5*-**+TDRNF97X080V5C*20.011.58.535,800217642439
      NCU[C,U]49CT5*-**+TDRNF98U110M5C*20.011.58.535,800217642441
      NCHC60DT5*-**+TDRNF98U135M5D*19.511.78.535,200217642438
      NCU[C,U]49CT5*-**+TDRNF98U090M5C*19.511.58.535,800217642440
      NCHC60DT5*-**+TDRNF97X080V5C*19.511.78.535,600217642442
      NCHC60DT5*-**+TDRNF98U090M5C*19.511.78.535,400217642443
      NCU[C,U]49CT5*-**+TDRNF80X100S5C*19.511.08.535,800217642484
      NCU[C,U]49CT5*-**+TDRNF80U110T5C*19.511.28.535,600217642485
      NCU[C,U]49CT5*-**+TDRNF80U110S5C*19.511.28.535,600217642487
      NCU[C,U]49CT5*-**+TDRNF80L110S5C*19.511.28.535,600217642488
      NCHC60DT5*-**+TDRNF80U110S5C*19.511.78.535,600217642491
      NCU[C,U]60CT5*-**+TDRNF80X100S5C*19.511.58.535,000217642496
      NCU[C,U]60CT5*-**+TDRNF80U110T5C*19.511.78.534,800217642498
      NCU[C,U]60CT5*-**+TDRNF80U090S5C*19.511.78.534,800217642499
      NCHC51CT5*-**+TDRNF98U090M5C*19.511.08.532,000217642725
      NCHC60DT5*-**+TDRNF80L110S5C*19.511.78.535,600217642494
      NCU[C,U]60CT5*-**+TDRNF97U110T5C*19.511.78.534,600218159774
      NCU[C,U]60CT5*-**+TDRNF97U110V5C*19.512.08.234,200217642503
      NCU[C,U]60CT5*-**+TDRNF80U110V5C*19.511.78.234,400217901782
      NCU[C,U]60CT5*-**+TDRNF97U090V5C*19.511.78.234,400217901783
      NCU[C,U]49CT5*-**+TDRNF80U090S5C*19.011.28.535,600217642486
      NCU[C,U]49CT5*-**+TDRNF96U110S5C*19.011.28.535,800217642489
      NCHC60DT5*-**+TDRNF80X100S5C*19.011.58.535,800217642493
      NCU[C,U]60CT5*-**+TDRNF95X100S5C*19.011.78.534,400217642497
      NCU[C,U]60CT5*-**+TDRNF96U110S5C*19.011.58.535,000217642502
      NCU[C,U]60DT5*-**+TDRNF80U135S5D*19.011.58.534,200217642504
      NAM60V1TA5*- · cold climate-19.011.58.538,500217642505
      NCHC60DT5*-**+TDRNF80U090S5C*19.011.58.535,800217642490
      NCU[C,U]60DT5*-**+TDRNF97U135V5D*19.011.28.234,200217901784
      NCHC60DT5*-**+TDRNF96U110S5C*18.511.58.535,800217642495
      NCHC48CT5*-**+TDRNF80U110T5C*18.511.08.532,800217642587
      NCHC48CT5*-**+TDRNF80U090S5C*18.511.08.532,800217642588
      NCU[C,U]60DT5*-**+TDRNF97U135T5D*18.511.28.534,600218159806
      NCHC51CT5*-**+TDRNF97U090V5C*18.511.08.231,200217901785
      NCHC48CT5*-**+TDRNF80U110S5C*18.011.08.532,600217642589
      NCHC48CT5*-**+TDRNF80L110S5C*18.011.08.532,600217642590
      NCHC60DT5*-**+TDRNF80U135S5D*18.011.78.535,400217642492
      NCHC60DT5*-**+TDRNF97U135V5D*18.011.58.235,400217901786
      NCHC60DT5*-**+TDRNF97U135T5D*17.511.58.535,800218159805
      NAM60E1TA5*- · cold climate-17.011.28.538,500217642506
      NCU[C,U]60DT5*-**+TDR-16.011.28.534,600217642444
      NCU[C,U]60CT5*-**+TDR-16.011.28.534,600217642445
      Yearly running cost in 10 large cities$1,257-$3,824

      At each state's average electricity price and the city's typical heating and cooling hours.

      Questions5
      What is the SEER2 rating of the GE NS21H60MA5-**A?
      The GE NS21H60MA5-**A is rated at up to 20.5 SEER2 and 11.7 EER2 for cooling and up to 8.5 HSPF2 for heating. The exact figure depends on the indoor unit it is paired with; across its 51 certified matchups SEER2 ranges from 16.0-20.5.
      Is the GE NS21H60MA5-**A good for cold climates?
      Yes. At least one certified matchup meets the ENERGY STAR cold-climate criteria, delivering up to 38,500 BTU/h at 5°F with a COP of 2.16, so it is still 2.2 times as efficient as electric resistance heat at that temperature.
      How much does the GE NS21H60MA5-**A cost to run per year?
      At its rated efficiency it costs about $1,257-$3,824 a year in electricity in large U.S. cities, depending on climate and local rates - for example $1,613 in Phoenix and $3,244 in Minneapolis. The calculator on this page works it out for your city and compares it with your current system.
      Which indoor units work with the GE NS21H60MA5-**A?
      ENERGY STAR lists 51 certified combinations for this outdoor unit. The highest-rated ones use NCU[C,U]49CT5*-**+TDR, NCU[C,U]60CT5*-**+TDR, NCU[C,U]60DT5*-**+TDR.
      What refrigerant does the GE NS21H60MA5-**A use?
      It uses R-454B.

      Running cost and savings

      Pre-filled with this model. Pick your city and what you heat with today; everything else is optional.

      Heat pump $1,634/yrYou save $1,151/yrSee details ↓
      1. Where you live
      Adjust heating and cooling hours

      Filled in from your city's climate. Change them if you run the system much more or less than usual.

      2. The heat pump GE NS21H60MA5-**A
      3. What it replaces
      4. Price replace the example with your quote
      Heat pump, per year
      $1,634
      Current system, per year
      $2,786
      You save per year
      $1,151
      Payback
      17.8 years
      Net after 10 years
      -$8,985

      Cooling $936Heating $698Electricity used: 10,213 kWhSaved vs. a minimum-efficiency heat pump: $499

      Estimates use the unit's rated SEER2 and HSPF2, full-load hours derived from NOAA 1991-2020 degree days, average residential electricity prices from the U.S. EIA (12 months to July 2026) and fuel prices from EIA (2025 for natural gas, week of 2026-10-05 for propane and heating oil). Very cold days that need backup heat are not modelled. Federal minimum for comparison: 14.3 SEER2 / 7.5 HSPF2.

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      Source: ENERGY STAR Certified Heat Pumps (U.S. EPA), certification of April 22, 2026. How we use the data.